Accessory for photographic films



Feb. 10, 1931. P. FAVOUR 1,791,893

ACCESSORY FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG FILMS Original Filed March 1, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 gmntoz 1 cm]. 'Fnv our Feb. 10, 1931. P. FAVOUR 1,791,893

ACCESSORY FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS Original Filed March 1, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuewtot P5111.- Tavmur Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL FAVOUR, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOEASTMAN KODAK COM- PAINY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK ACCESSORY IFOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS Original application filed March1, 1928, Serial No. 258,289. Divided and this application filed June 1,1929. Serial No. 367,688.

This invention relates to cinematography and more particularly to anarticle and method useful in giving fade in and iris effects inprojecting consecutive scenes originally taken under uniform exposureconditions, and in avoiding undesirable effects caused by the suddentransition from a photographic ima e of one density to an image of adifferent density.

While of general application, my invention is of particular use in theediting and splicing of amateur motion picture films of small dimension,where there is usually only a single print and elaborate taking andprinting methods are not warranted; and where the successive scenes arefrequently of varying quality and subject matter.

When a reel of such film has been assembled it is possible, by myinvention, to determine from the complete projected film at what pointsthe features mentioned would be most desirable, and to apply to the filmas an otherwise completed film, or pho-toplay, a layer overlapping thejunction of successive scenes and varying in its density and in iriseffect, so as to change the character of the transition from one sceneto the next.

The present application is a division of my application Serial No.258,289 filed March 1, 1928 and. relates to the article as sold, carryinthe overlapping layer to be applied to the lm.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein the samereference characters denote the same parts throughout, and in which Fig.1 is a face VlGW of a printed film as first assembled;

Figs. 2 and 3 are edge views of diflerent forms of such a film, andembody my invention" Figs. i, 5, 6, 'Z, and 8 are face views of filmsembodying modifications of my invention;

Fig. 9 shows a strip carrying a transfer layer to be applied to afinished film;

Fig. 10 shows a layer being transferred from its carrier to the film.

My invention is preferably applied to a complete and assembled strip offilm containing consecutive series of images. Such a film F is shown inFig. 1, and has the usual edge perforations 1, and in the form shown apicture area 2 for each pair of perforations. There are two series ofpicture or image areas, A and B, each series constituting a scene andthe severalframes of each series being of substantially uniform densityand contrast. The two subjects may be, however, very difierent so thatthere is an abrupt change at their junction 0 which is not pleasing whenprojected. The film may also carry sound records 8- and S inregistration along one edge of each scene and the density of the tworecords may be so difi'erent that there would be a sudden anddispleasing noise effect at the junction point.

In such cases as this a gradual transition such as a fade in or irisingof the picture is very desirable, and I obtain such an effect byapplying a layer 3 preferably across the junction and extending over acontinuous series of picture frames and. over the sound record on eachside of the junction. This layer is shown in edge view in Fig. 2, wherethe two series A and B are indicated as be ing on two pieces of film,the junction C be ing in the form of a splice. In the form shown in Fig.3, the two picture series are on the same strip of film, the junction Cbeing merely indicated. In each case the film comprises a lighttransmitting support 4 of a composition including cellulose acetate,cellulose nitrate or other cellulosic compound, and a photographicemulsion layer 5 containing the images. The layer 3 may be appliedeither on the emulsion surface, as in Fig. 2, or on the support surface,as in Fig. 3.

This applied layer is of varying light transmission from frame to frame,and in the preferred form, shown in Fig. 4, this consists of a series oftransparent areas 6 of the same shape, here shown as circular,surrounded by light retarding borders 7 covering the rest of eachpicture area, the areas 6 oeing large at the ends of the applied stripand becoming gradually smaller toward the junction where they mayentirely disappear, and the density of the border areas gradually growsgreater towar the junction where it may be opaque. This gives, whenprojected, an iris out and in of the central part of thepicture area anda fade out and in of the border portion, and also causes a gradualdiminution and increase of the sound without a sudden or displeasingsound or change of volume.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the iris-out feature is omitted and thestrip 3 varies in density only, being densestat its middle portion.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, the transparent areas 6 are heart shapedover one series and grow smaller toward the junction, and the areas 6 onthe other scene are diamond shaped. The border portions 7 are of uniformdensity, being preferably opaque throughout.

In each of the forms it is to be noted that the total light transmissionof successive picture frames varies uniformly and increases from theends to the center of the applied layer. The layer may extend over theentire width of the film, as in Fig. 11, or over the picture area only,as in the other figures.

The layer may extend over the end portion of one series only as inFig.7, where the layer 3 increases in density toward the junction C andstopsther'e.

The form of the applied layer may vary Widely. Preferably there will besupplied, as articles of manufacture and sale, strips of a support 10such as paper having on one surface an easily stripped layer 3. Thepaper strip may have perforations 11 corresponding to perforations 1 andconstituting a means for centering the areas 6 with the picture frames.The paper strirs are wider than the transfer strip, and will e laid uponthe film strip with the perforations in registry. The paper strip withthe transfer material will be submitted to such treatment as may benecessary to cause the transfer material to remain on the film and thepaper to be stripped therefrom. If desired the perforations may beregistered by means of projections 12 carried by support 13.

One embodiment is a photographic stripping film of known type in whichthe transfer layer is of gelatine or collodion and carries aphotographically formed image. These are well known in the art, typicalexamples being disclosed for use in motion pic ture color processes inthe British patent to Kent 20,556 of 1912.

The transfer layer may be of the type commonly used for decalcomania.

The strip may also be in the form of a film support similar to the filmto which it is to be applied and carrying in the gelatine layer imagesof the form and properties already described. These may be dye imagesformed by known imbibition or dye toning processes, or may bephotographically formed silver images or photographically formed coloredsalts produced by any of the well known methods. Such a strip would beapplied in the same way as is illustrated in Fig. 9, except that thesupportwould not be stripped from the varying image carrying layer.

I consider as included in my invention all other modifications andequivalents as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture and sale, a strip of material comprisinga support and a stripping layer carried by said support, the saidstripping layer being of a size sufficient to cover completely a seriesof picture areas on a motion picture film and varying in the total lighttransmission of an area corresponding to a picture area.

2. As an article of manufacture and sale, a strip of material for use inapplying a layer to a motion picture band having perforations on itsborders and image areas in definite relation to its areas, said stripcomprising a support perforated to correspond to the perforations of theband and a stripping layer of a type adapted to adhere to the band andto be readily stripped from the support, the stripping layer being of asize suflicient to cover completely a series of image areas and varyingin the total light transmission of successive areas corresponding tosuccessive picture areas.

Signed at Rochester, New York this 29th day of May, 1929.

PAUL FAVOUR.

